Abstract

Tests employing glucose have limited value in the diagnosis of malabsorption because factors other than absorption influence glucose blood levels following an oral dose of this sugar (1). The d-xylose absorption test, introduced by Helmer and Fouts (2), is less influenced by metabolic processes than is the glucose tolerance test, and it has been employed successfully by many workers (3-5). Although the d-xylose test has been useful in the diagnosis of sprue, results are variable with some other diseases (5, 6) and in elderly persons without intestinal disease (7). Furthermore, it has been shown recently that endocrine disorders may influence